Sam Hicks Powers Abilene Christian to 24-0 Shutout over Northern Arizona, Advancing in Playoffs

Northern Arizona, holding an 8-5 record, entered the FCS playoffs ranked 17th overall but without a seed after a strong finish, winning five consecutive games.

In their playoff debut, the Lumberjacks faced Abilene Christian in Abilene, Texas, where they were shut out, succumbing to a 24-0 defeat on Saturday.

Sam Hicks was the standout player for Abilene Christian, rushing for 171 yards and scoring on a decisive 53-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats, with a 9-4 record and 15th seed in the tournament, not only secured their first playoff spot but also set their sights on a challenging matchup against the second-seeded North Dakota State, a nine-time champion.

Abilene pulled ahead early, taking a 7-0 lead during their second possession. Carson Haggard threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Trey Cleveland, culminating an impressive 10-play, 97-yard drive.

Despite intercepting Haggard twice shortly after, Northern Arizona was unable to capitalize on these opportunities. The Lumberjacks opted for a risky fourth-and-goal attempt from the one-yard line but suffered a setback as Jordan Mukes tackled Ty Pennington for a 4-yard loss, leading to a 46-yard field goal by Ritse Vaes and a 10-0 halftime deficit.

The score remained unchanged until Hicks broke free for his lengthy touchdown run with just over ten minutes left in the game. Haggard later connected with Blayne Taylor for a 6-yard score to seal the game with two minutes remaining.

Though Haggard completed 23 of 29 passes for 244 yards, he also faced challenges, throwing three interceptions. Notably, Abilene’s defense, which had faced struggles in the regular season, succeeded in shutting out their opponent for the first time since a 56-0 victory over Lamar more than two years ago.

With this victory, Abilene Christian advances to face North Dakota State next Saturday at the Fargo Dome, preparing for a significant step in their playoff journey.